Chapter 454: Hands-on (Two-in-One)
The young man's voice was calm and indifferent, as if speaking of a trivial matter, yet it exploded within Jiang Lan's mind.
She abruptly raised her head, and through the thin red veil, she stared intently at the young man with a playful smile before her!
How could this be?!
How did he know?!
From every angle, her disguise was flawless.
Her aura, appearance, and even vital signs were perfectly simulated!
Even her elder brother, Jiang Daoxuan, failed to notice!
According to Jiang Lan's original plan, even if Gu Yun lifted the red veil and saw her true face, he would never be able to see through her disguise.
But now, her plan, which she thought was flawless, had failed before it even began. In front of this man, it was as if she was standing naked, with no difference at all.
Even through a thin barrier, Gu Yun could clearly sense Jiang Lan's disbelief.
"What? Are you surprised?"
"Such a clumsy trick, I thought Jiang Daoxuan was cooperating with you to deceive me."
"Seeing you today, Palace Master Jiang's performance is impeccable. I just didn't expect you to still be smug. You're already alone, why aren't you in a hurry to reveal your identity?"
Gu Yun sat to the side, picked up the tea on the table, and sipped it elegantly and calmly.
Inside the bridal chamber, the festive candlelight seemed to dim sharply because of these words.
"Or are you harboring some more sinister intentions?"
"Senior Jiang Lan."
"This matter has nothing to do with my elder brother. If you had chosen to expose my identity in person, perhaps he would have cooperated with you to suppress me."
"Why choose to be alone with me now? Don't you know the vast disparity in strength between us?"
Seeing that everything had been seen through by Gu Yun, Jiang Lan no longer had any need to continue her disguise. She removed the red veil, revealing her stunningly beautiful face, which appeared flawless in the flickering candlelight.
Her brows were like swords, slanting into her temples, carrying the sharp edge honed by countless battles.
Her phoenix-like eyes were as deep as a cold pond, now burning with raging anger and incredulous shock, as if they wanted to incinerate the person before her into ashes.
Below her straight nose, her lips were tightly pressed, outlining a stubborn and cold line.
Her figure was tall and upright, and even in the elaborate and beautiful red wedding dress, she could not conceal the heroic spirit and iron-blooded killing intent of a strong person that emanated from her very bones.
At this moment, her conscience, which was violently heaving with anger, outlined a breathtaking curve under the restraint of the wedding dress, adding a few points of dangerous allure.
She resembled Jiang Qing by seventy to eighty percent, but her identity, Jiang Lan, could still be quickly confirmed by her temperament.
[xuan qing treasure mirror, Page 40]
[Name: Jiang Lan]
[Age: 13572]
[Affection: -10]
[Physique: Golden Source Dao Body]
[Cultivation: Quasi-Emperor Sixth Heaven]
[Identity: Heroine of "Infinite Troop Spawning, I Established a Supreme Immortal Dynasty"]
The updated information about her also appeared before the young man's eyes as expected.
Gu Yun raised an eyebrow slightly, and the corner of his mouth curved: "System, Jiang Lan has already been promoted to a heroine, hasn't her ranking changed yet?"
The young man expressed dissatisfaction with the xuan qing treasure mirror's verbatim recitation.
[Ding! Detecting a change in the Heavenly Dao's destiny, the xuan qing treasure mirror's ranking is fixed and cannot be changed, but the reward for including Jiang Lan has increased. The current reward is: Red Treasure Chest * 2]
Two red treasure chests?
It directly rose to the level equivalent to the top twenty of the original xuan qing treasure mirror. It seems that this newly appearing Child of Destiny should also not be a simple character.
As his strength increased, he would face increasingly powerful Children of Destiny.
The Child of Destiny script Jiang Lan brought him was on par with those of Yao Qingli, Qin Qing霜, and others, only recording major events in her life without detailed information.
She was a special existence under the absolute protection of destiny.
Her destiny value was at least 100,000. In other words, this was an unprecedented big fish.
"You..."
She stared intently at Gu Yun, her voice trembling slightly from extreme shame and anger, each word squeezed out through clenched teeth, "Gu Yun! What exactly do you want?!"
"This marriage should not have happened in the first place. Since you don't care at all, what difference does it make who you marry?"
"It was because I offended you that Gengjin Immortal Palace and Qing'er suffered such an unwarranted disaster. Now, let me bear all of this."
Gu Yun put down the teacup, and the bottom of the cup made a crisp clinking sound against the jade tabletop.
He slowly stood up, his gaze like a tangible entity lingering on Jiang Lan's face, which appeared even more breathtaking due to her anger. The smile on his lips carried undisguised aggression and... appreciation.
An angry Quasi-Emperor could not bring him much pressure; on the contrary, he was somewhat more excited.
"What do I want?" Gu Yun chuckled, his voice low and magnetic, with a hint of playfulness, "Senior Jiang Lan, that question, it seems I should be asking you, shouldn't I?"
He took a step forward, closing the distance, and the masculine aura with a faint sense of oppression instantly enveloped Jiang Lan.
The disparity in strength between the two was like a chasm, but at this moment, in front of the young man, Jiang Lan could even faintly feel her own insignificance.
Unstoppable!
She didn't know why, but such an absurd thought arose in Jiang Lan's heart.
It challenged her understanding of ten thousand years.
"Miss Jiang Lan painstakingly orchestrated this ridiculous substitute marriage farce."
"You put on your niece's wedding dress, entered this bridal chamber, attempted to seize your niece's opportunity, and now you're putting on an act here. What's the point?"
Gu Yun's smile did not diminish, even carrying a hint of mockery and ridicule.
His gaze towards Jiang Lan was even filled with undisguised possessiveness and disdain.
"Boy, you shouldn't be this close to me!"
Seeing Gu Yun constantly approaching, his position instantly within reach, she could easily attack him.
Jiang Lan could no longer hold back and abruptly stood up from the bed.
The magnificent wedding dress fluttered with her violent movements, outlining breathtaking undulations in the candlelight.
The anger burning in her phoenix eyes almost materialized and gushed out!
Violent Gengjin Qi erupted uncontrollably from her body, instantly sweeping away all the romantic atmosphere in the bridal chamber!
"My dear wife, how is it now?"
Looking at Jiang Lan, who was as agitated as a startled kitten, Gu Yun's expression remained playful. He simply did not take Jiang Lan, a Quasi-Emperor, seriously.
This deeply stung Jiang Lan's heart. She had acted with the determination to perish together, yet she was so utterly ignored by the young man.
Her cheeks burned with pain, and Jiang Lan's voice became sharp: "Gu Yun, since you have already exposed the truth, why bother putting on an act here?"
"Neither I nor Qing'er will ever succumb to your power!"
"Between you and me, we have never known each other, so what affection can there be?!"
"There was none before, but that may not be the case in the future. We entered the bridal chamber witnessed by three thousand guests."
"Does that not count as true husband and wife?"
"What you're doing, where does that leave Jiang Qing? Where does that leave the Immortal Palace? Where does that leave the Jiang family?"
[Ding! The Fortune Heroine has entered a state of rage. Reward: 3000 Villain Points]
"Stop talking nonsense!!"
"You think a few words can shake my will? Delusional!"
The flames of the red candles flickered wildly under the pressure of the violent power, almost extinguishing, and the sturdy spatial restrictions groaned under the strain.
"Yes, I have been in the Jiang family for over ten thousand years, enjoying the Jiang family's resources to achieve the Quasi-Emperor realm."
"But for ten thousand years, the high-grade treasures I have refined for the Jiang family have already fully repaid the favor!"
"I was powerless to resist what happened back then, and I allowed the clan to act. Now that disaster has befallen Qing'er, I, this sinner, will put an end to all of it!"
Jiang Lan's movements were swift and precise, carrying a resolute determination to perish together, so fast that no one could react.
Outside, Gu Yaozi's beautiful eyes narrowed, and her expression instantly turned extremely ugly.
She never expected Gu Yun to get so close to Jiang Lan, nor did she expect Jiang Lan to unleash such a decisive killing blow at this moment! Even with the methods she had left behind, she couldn't guarantee Gu Yun would be unharmed by an attack that burned her origin.
"This Jiang family is truly seeking its own demise!"
Gu Yaozi, who had already been somewhat critical of this marriage, was now seething with rage. Just as she was about to tear off her disguise and forcefully break in—
"Aunt Zi, don't rush."
"Acting now will ruin my plan."
Gu Yun's calm voice echoed in her mind.
"Nonsense!" Gu Yaozi fumed, speaking rapidly and angrily at his lack of concern, "No matter what, that Jiang Lan is a Quasi-Emperor Sixth Heaven! How can you resist? What plan are you talking about now! Your safety is the top priority!"
"Aunt Zi, trust me."
Gu Yun's voice remained steady, with an undeniable certainty.
This caused Gu Yaozi to involuntarily hesitate for a moment. Trust him...?
"You brat!" She muttered through gritted teeth.
In just that fleeting moment of delay, Jiang Lan's ultimate strike within the room had already fully brewed.
The figure in the grand red wedding dress now showed no trace of a new bride's tenderness; she had transformed into a grim reaper emerging from the underworld, her entire body erupting with unprecedented brilliant divine light.
Her terrifying cultivation of Quasi-Emperor Sixth Heaven was no longer held back, like a volcano that had been dormant for ten thousand years suddenly erupting.
An ancient divine sword, flowing with destructive Gengjin killing power, appeared out of thin air in her hand. Wherever the sword pointed, it was invincible.
She did not shriek, nor did she roar; only a pair of purple eyes, burning with cold flames, locked onto Gu Yun.
In her gaze was the resolve of burning bridges, the obsession of protecting her loved ones, the unyielding spirit of preferring to shatter than bend!
The space vibrated violently. If not for the special material of the room and the protection of restrictions, and the invisible protection of Gu Yaozi's power from outside, it would have instantly turned to dust. The mere aftermath of the attack was already terrifying!
Jiang Lan knew she had only one chance. She poured all her power, will, and despair for the future into this single sword strike.
Her eyes were cold and resolute, with no hint of testing, only an all-out destruction.
"Gengjin Annihilation—Myriad Tribulations Return to Void!!!"
One sword strike, all laws yield!
Even a lion uses its full strength to fight a rabbit.
Jiang Lan's attack, however, was not just that; she was going all in, without considering any consequences.
The sword light condensed into a pale white crack that tore through chaos, carrying the terrifying true meaning of ending all things and returning to nothingness, ignoring spatial distance, and stabbing directly at Gu Yun's glabella!
Its speed surpassed thought, and its power made laws wail!
But Gu Yun seemed to be captivated by this world-shattering strike, still standing in place, unmoving.
Even on that handsome face, which made people jealous, there was a hint of interested playfulness.
"Young Master, be careful!!"
Shadow's figure suddenly appeared. Even with Gu Yun's previous instructions, she could not sit by and watch this terrifying attack land on him.
In her belief, blocking disaster for her master and ensuring his safety was the destiny of a shadow guard, and it should happen before any protective magic treasures were activated!
Only then would she be worthy of Gu Yun's grace and favor.
Gu Yun, who had been in a playful state, finally showed a slight change in expression. He had forgotten about Shadow.
Although his personal guard had now reached the Quasi-Emperor Fourth Heaven realm, facing Jiang Lan, a Quasi-Emperor Sixth Heaven, she would still be somewhat outmatched!
"Shadow, stop messing around!"
Gu Yun sternly shouted, and his left hand shot out like lightning. A powerful yet incredibly precise force instantly enveloped Shadow.
Shadow stiffened all over, feeling as if the space around her had solidified. The surging spiritual energy within her body was instantly forcibly sealed by an irresistible force, making her unable to move even a finger!
Her gaze turned to her Young Master in disbelief, and she froze in place, somewhat at a loss.
Her clear eyes instantly filled with shock and bewilderment—Young Master... when did he possess such incredible power?
To be able to so easily restrain herself, a Quasi-Emperor Fourth Heaven?
However, this sudden change, which happened in a flash of lightning, was nothing more than a trivial background noise to Jiang Lan, who had focused all her attention on Gu Yun and was in a state of self-forgetful attack.
In her eyes—there was only Gu Yun!
The burning Gengjin origin bestowed "Myriad Tribulations Return to Void" with unprecedented terrifying power.
That divine sword seemed to have transformed into the universe's spear of judgment, condensing the indestructible Gengjin killing intent, tearing through the stable spatial restrictions within the bridal chamber, emitting a hair-raising wail.
Wherever the sword edge passed, even the candlelight was sucked dry, leaving only a pure, ultimate pale sword mark, as if it would drag all things into ultimate nothingness!
Gu Yun shielded Shadow behind him, his playful expression completely gone. His intention to play with Jiang Lan also vanished at this moment.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, cold and indifferent.
"Perish!"
He did not dodge or evade.
There was even no sign of him using any protective magic treasures.
His movements were extremely simple: he raised his arm and extended his hand.
His slender, well-defined fingers spread open, directly meeting the destructive sword edge capable of piercing stars!
"..."
Jiang Lan's pupils suddenly constricted, and a cold sneer flashed in her heart, but she had no time to think further, all her will condensed at the tip of the sword!
Theoretically speaking, facing Gu Yun, she only needed a casual strike, but this man brought her unprecedented pressure.
In the history of the Three Thousand Dao Domains, there had never been a cultivator with such talent.
"A little wildcat that scratches also has her adorable side, doesn't she?"
//455//
Chapter 455: Counterattack, Jiang Lan's Fate
Jiang Lan, who was fully immersed in her task, suddenly heard the young man's teasing words. Her expression froze, and the aura she had condensed to its peak almost dissipated due to his words.
"Bastard."
She muttered, the spiritual energy on her body surging and roaring even more fiercely, but it was already too late.
Crack—!
Everything froze. A faint yet extremely piercing sound of shattering echoed, incredibly clear in the previously silent environment.
Shadow, who had been worried about Gu Yun's safety, and Jiang Lan, who had been completely focused, both froze in place, mouths agape, bodies trembling, staring blankly at the scene, all questioning their lives.
The cognitive impact they had suffered in their entire lives was not as strong as what they experienced in these brief few breaths.
Gu Yun's right hand, like a supreme clamp, effortlessly gripped the blade of the divine sword, which flowed with destructive aura!
The imagined scene of flesh and blood flying did not occur.
The sword qi, powerful enough to pierce through star seas and annihilate stars, struck Gu Yun's five fingers, yet it was like raging waves crashing against an ancient divine mountain, stirring not a single ripple.
Instead, the dazzling brilliance on the sword's edge gradually faded, and the spiritual energy-condensed sword body, like decaying wood, snapped inch by inch. The "crack" of shattering grew from faint to loud, instantly forming a chorus of desperate wails.
Finally, with the complete annihilation of the sword's edge, it vanished into thin air.
Jiang Lan's figure abruptly halted, all her strength seemingly drained in an instant. A backlash force, following the severed connection, surged back!
"Ugh!" She grunted, her body shaking violently, stumbling back a step. Her face instantly turned ashen white, her insides churning. The weakness from burning her origin and the pain of the backlash assailed her simultaneously.
However, before she could steady herself, Gu Yun's figure, like a ghost, closed in.
The hand that had just crushed her strongest attack now lightly pressed against her chest, at the Shanzhong acupoint.
A cold, domineering force, carrying an absolute sealing will, like a bursting dam, instantly rushed into her meridians, breaking through all resistance to seal all her acupoints and imprison the surging Geng Jin origin in her dantian!
Jiang Lan felt her whole body stiffen. The vast, ocean-like power within her, like a frozen river, instantly became still, no longer able to be mobilized in the slightest.
She became an empty shell, possessing the Quasi-Emperor Realm but without an ounce of power!
"You..."
Jiang Lan suddenly lifted her head. In her purple eyes, which had originally burned with determination and rage, there was now only immense shock, bewilderment, and a coldness born of completely shattered understanding.
She stared intently at Gu Yun, who was close at hand, her voice trembling slightly due to extreme shock and the draining of her power.
"You, you sealed my power?"
"How did you do that?"
She couldn't understand how a Xiantai Realm cultivator could so casually withstand her desperate attack, or how he could so easily seal the entire cultivation of a sixth-level Quasi-Emperor.
But she also knew all too well that she was now a lamb to the slaughter.
"No choice, you went a bit too far."
The aura around Gu Yun receded like a tide, returning to the appearance of a third-level Xiantai Realm cultivator. But the indifferent gaze he had just revealed, capable of freezing souls, sent a bone-deep chill through both Shadow and Jiang Lan.
"This brat."
Gu Yaozi, who had been constantly observing the scene in the room, finally let out a sigh of relief: "Indeed, if he didn't have some tricks, he couldn't have done those things in that bamboo forest earlier, relying solely on Qiu Yueci's strength."
Connecting the dots, Gu Yaozi finally relaxed.
At the same time, she said with a hint of resentment: "It's just that this brat dared to tell me nothing, making me worry for nothing. I'll have to teach him a lesson later."
"How can the dignified Young Master of the Gu Family risk his life so casually? What a joke!!"
Gu Yaozi had already begun to devise ways to punish Gu Yun, but the young man was completely unaware of the impending danger.
He was still reveling in the satisfaction of having everything under control. He looked at Jiang Lan, whose face was pale, her body trembling slightly from exhaustion and the seal, but whose eyes still stared at him stubbornly. A faint smile played on his lips: "Senior Jiang Lan, you're still the same as when we first met, acting without a word."
He slowly squatted down, looking at the beautiful figure seated on the edge of the bed. He reached out and gently pinched her delicate chin, speaking teasingly.
The young man's grip wasn't heavy, but it was condescending, revealing an undisguised attitude of looking down upon her.
Jiang Lan was forced to tilt her head slightly. Such a posture made her feel incredibly ashamed. Having always regarded herself as a favored daughter of heaven since childhood, Jiang Lan had never suffered such humiliation.
Those deep, abyss-like eyes, filled with a teasing smile, now seemed so ironic to her.
She had deluded herself into thinking she could control everything with her Quasi-Emperor cultivation, but in the end, it was nothing more than a foolish, self-deceiving trick.
Perhaps in the eyes of the young man before her, it was merely a means to attract his attention.
"Let go!"
Even so, Jiang Lan refused to yield.
"Gu Yun, a scholar can be killed but not humiliated!"
"If you want to kill me or dismember me, just do it quickly!"
"I, Jiang Lan, can afford to die!!"
Her voice was cold and resolute, like a female warrior about to valiantly face death.
"No, when did I say I was going to kill you?"
Gu Yun chuckled softly, completely ignoring Jiang Lan's self-pity.
His fingers gently caressed the beauty's smooth jawline, his voice incredibly low: "How could I bear to turn such a pitiful beauty into a withered corpse?"
"You are my lawfully wedded wife. Countless guests are watching outside."
"If I just kill you like this, how would the world see me?"
"Suffering from a hidden ailment, and then flying into a rage?"
"Oh my, that's truly a good scheme, trying to use such a malicious plan to harm my reputation. They call me Gu Yun, 'Eight-Level Hurricane,' so I will never be deceived by such a small trick."
Gu Yun pressed closer, already forcefully pinning Jiang Lan onto the bed.
The man's overwhelming presence completely enveloped her. Jiang Lan experienced fear for the first time: "Pervert!"
"You, you get away..."
She spoke tremblingly, encountering such a situation for the first time made her unable to speak properly.
No matter how many years of experience she had, encountering such a situation would still make her mind go blank, sliding into a state of confusion.
"My wife, the night... is already deep."
Gu Yun's voice was low and pleasant. He never gave Jiang Lan any room to resist.
What a joke. From beginning to end, it was Jiang Lan herself who had orchestrated everything, willingly putting on the wedding dress, entering the bridal chamber, and replacing Jiang Qing to become Gu Yun's bride.
The young man actually didn't care much about any of this. Whether it was Jiang Lan or Jiang Qing, they were both his targets.
No matter who was beneath the bridal veil, Gu Yun only needed to think about going into battle, while Jiang Lan, as the planner, had thought too much.
Now, with her spiritual energy sealed.
And having entered the bridal chamber with the young man in broad daylight, Jiang Lan finally understood what true despair felt like.
///456//
Chapter 456 Fleet
Somewhere in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, in a boundless star sea, the starlight was dim, and silence reigned.
A somewhat hurried divine light suddenly tore through the void, and Jiang Qing's figure stumbled out, falling onto cold, floating meteorite fragments.
Her combat attire was stained with stardust, and she looked heroic, yet it couldn't hide the pale, still-shocked look on her face and the bone-deep terror she felt.
She looked around blankly, seeing only eternal darkness and the cold, distant stars that dotted it.
"Aunt…"
She clutched her arms tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh, her body trembling slightly from lingering fear and immense guilt: "How could I… how could I abandon Aunt and escape alone…"
A sense of unease, like a cold viper, tightly coiled around the young girl's heart, tightening its grip.
Although Jiang Lan had been confident before they left, her Quasi-Emperor cultivation was the best support, and from the surface strength, Gu Yun, who was only in the Small Saint Realm, couldn't pose much of a threat to her.
But how could that Gu Family Emperor Child be an ordinary person?
If he discovered that the bride had been swapped, what kind of fury would he fall into?
And what kind of terrifying and unbearable pain would her aunt, who was directly in the line of fire, experience…
Jiang Qing didn't dare to think about it, nor did she dare to touch upon it.
She hated her incompetence, hated her weakness, and even more, hated this damned fate!
Whether it was her or her aunt.
No matter their cultivation or strength.
They were both slaves to this fate; no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't turn things around.
"No matter what, I escaped from the Jiang family carrying Aunt's hopes."
"I must… live well!!"
A determined light flickered in Jiang Qing's eyes; after all, she was the female lead of destiny. Although she would have moments of confusion, she would ultimately not be easily defeated.
But the tricks of fate were everywhere. Just as Jiang Qing was preparing to embark on her new life, an extremely terrifying will suddenly descended.
It instantly locked onto the star domain she was in.
Jiang Qing's hair instantly stood on end. She felt as if she had been targeted by a terrifying existence, whose aura was like an abyss, profound and distant, as if the entire world was encompassed within him.
She suddenly looked up, her pupils contracting sharply!
She saw the previously empty void in front of her rippling violently like water!
Space was silently torn and folded!
An unimaginably vast flying boat, like a giant beast of the starry sky awakening from slumber, slowly extended its hideous bow!
Its monstrous and peculiar form almost overturned all of Jiang Qing's understanding of magical artifact flying boats.
It was not the common style of immortal boats or Tower Ship (lou chuan) seen in the Three Thousand Dao Domains, but a metallic creation full of coldness, order, and geometric beauty!
The streamlined silver-gray hull was covered with unknown alloy armor, gleaming with a cold metallic luster.
At the bow, a terrifyingly huge main cannon muzzle, like the mouth of an abyss, emitted destructive energy fluctuations.
The cannon body was adorned with many ancient and obscure runes, shimmering with strange faint lights in the dark starry sky.
On both sides of the hull, dense arrays of cannon muzzles and launch silos, like a honeycomb, silently spoke of its terrifying war potential.
And this was only the beginning.
Behind this flagship, spatial ripples continuously spread like a lake into which a stone had been thrown!
One, two, ten, a hundred… thousands of warships of various shapes and sizes, orderly warped out from the folded space!
They arranged themselves into an infuriatingly neat formation, like a steel torrent, instantly filling this previously empty star domain!
The cold metallic luster formed a continuous expanse, obscuring the starlight and bringing a suffocating sense of oppression!
Jiang Qing never expected that such a terrifying "steel forest" would be hidden in this uninhabited, remote star domain.
But why had she never heard of it before?
The massive fleet silently hovered in the sea of stars, and the cold engine plumes, like countless cold eyes, locked onto the figure on the meteorite, as tiny as a speck of dust.
Jiang Qing's mind gradually recovered from its blank state, primarily because although these iron shells looked intimidating, the spiritual power contained within them was not too alarming.
At most, they were equivalent to the Dao Body Realm, which for her, who had obtained a legacy in the Ancient Continent and broken through to the Small Saint Realm, only posed a slight threat.
Only the main ship at the very front had incalculable power and might.
At least it possessed a Quasi-Emperor level, but while powerful, it wasn't enough to completely suppress the Jiang family's direct daughter, who had seen many grand scenes.
Jiang Qing quickly adjusted, slowly straightened her back, and precisely locked her gaze on the flagship directly in front. Its heavy armor slid open like petals to both sides, and a figure slowly stepped out, standing on the cold bridge, looking down at her from above.
"Why do you have her aura on you?"
The man was tall and slender, dressed in a strangely styled battle armor.
The main body of the armor was flowing dark silver metal, covering his entire body like a living thing, while the joints were inlaid with warm and ancient green jade talismans, through which gentle spiritual power flowed.
His face was covered by an expressionless dark gold metal mask, revealing only a pair of eyes.
Those eyes… were as deep as an ancient well, yet at the bottom of the well burned two clusters of cold, aggressive, eerie blue flames, as if they could penetrate the soul and see through the past and future.
His gaze fell on Jiang Qing, especially lingering on the swordsman attire she wore, which belonged to Jiang Lan.
"These clothes, are they hers?"
"You know my aunt?"
This mysterious powerhouse who suddenly appeared seemed to be after Jiang Lan, which slightly surprised Jiang Qing.
"Aunt…"
The man looked at Jiang Qing, scrutinizing her for a long time: "Similar, indeed very similar."
The cold, metallic-lustered armor slowly extended, wanting to cover Jiang Qing's cool, smooth cheek.
But the young girl instinctively dodged.
"You, who hide your true face, now that Aunt is in danger, I have never heard any news of you."
"Yet now you are still here, putting on an act."
"You and that Gu Family Emperor Child are nothing but two sides of the same coin, disgusting!!"
Jiang Qing looked at the man, and a sudden surge of nameless anger rose within her.
She naturally knew about Jiang Lan's situation back then; due to the family's threats, Jiang Lan had no choice but to compromise, and it was indeed her fault first.
But that man left without a word, not even giving Jiang Lan time to say a final goodbye.
Now encountering such a powerful and strangely behaving wack (guai ren), Jiang Qing naturally directly linked him to that person.
And the provocation, as expected, worked.
"Gu Family Emperor Child?"
"What Gu Family Emperor Child are you talking about?!!!"
The armored man's aura suddenly surged, his anger boiling, seemingly on the verge of losing control.
"What does that person want to do to my Lan'er?!!!"
///457//
Chapter 457 Lin Chen
The man's aura suddenly changed, and Jiang Qing's face turned pale from the sudden impact of the terrifying killing intent.
This person's strength should not be underestimated; he is at least a quasi-Emperor level expert.
Jiang Qing quickly made a judgment, enduring the pressure to look at the armored man, and said without humility or arrogance, "I was just testing you earlier, and I didn't expect such a strong reaction from you. It seems you are the person Auntie mentioned."
"After ten thousand years of no sight, your reappearance is truly glorious."
"It's just a pity for Auntie; all those years of bitter waiting, of looking forward, couldn't even earn you a single glance back."
"Is this your choice, Lin Chen!!!"
Jiang Qing's words revealed Lin Chen's identity, causing the armored man's pupils to suddenly contract.
The girl's questioning, every word, was like a red-hot steel needle, piercing deeply into Lin Chen's soul.
She not only recognized him but also knew about his past with Jiang Lan!
This could only be Lan'er... Lan'er never forgot, and even told his name to her closest niece!
The other party actually knew his name, which meant Jiang Lan hadn't forgotten him all these years.
But he himself... Remembering everything that happened back then, his heart twisted in pain as if being cut by a knife, making it hard to breathe.
"No... that's not right..."
He let out an extremely dry, hoarse sound from his throat, as if enduring immense pain: "At that time, Jiang Daoxuan clearly told me... Lan'er... Lan'er had already moved on... She was going to follow the family's arrangement and marry into another force to achieve a good outcome."
"He told me to leave Lan'er, lest I ruin her future."
"Heh... Is that all your affection for Auntie amounts to?"
"All of this was just my father's one-sided story. As the Palace Master of Gengjin Immortal Palace, he naturally had his own plans."
"And you..."
"You were just a coward who fled the battlefield. It's a pity Auntie waited for you for so many years."
Jiang Qing's disdainful expression fiercely burned Lin Chen's heart, seemingly slapping him across the face.
The cold light from the battleship shone on his armor, appearing so cold and ironic.
Why did he endure the pain of fleeing far away back then, suffering ten thousand years of solitude and the torment of the starry sea's blood-fire? Why did he force himself to endure the bone-deep longing, struggling to rise from the brink of death again and again?
Wasn't it all to return honorably and take her after he possessed enough power to protect Lan'er and contend against the entire Gengjin Immortal Palace family forces one day?!
Now, this soul from another world had truly and completely merged with this body in the Central Domain.
His hollow eyes gradually became bright and sparkling: "No, it's not my fault, it's him, he lied to me!!!"
Lin Chen roared, looking at Jiang Qing: "Jiang Daoxuan lied to me. Lan'er hasn't forgotten me at all; she still loves me."
"Loves you?"
"What good is that now?"
"So many years have passed now; she has already given up hope, even willing to exchange her lifelong happiness for my freedom."
"And when all of this happened, you weren't there..."
At this point, Jiang Qing's eyes were filled with tears.
What girl doesn't hope for a peerless hero to emerge in her most desperate moment, someone who can overcome all difficulties and rescue her from distress?
At least Jiang Lan once had such fantasies, but all of them turned into illusory bubbles.
Jiang Qing originally thought that man should have died long ago; given her father's personality, even if the other party was driven out of the Gengjin Dao Domain, there should have been no possibility of him surviving.
But now, the other party stood right in front of her, even with such a massive and vast super fleet following behind him.
Possessing such strength, yet he never returned to Gengjin Immortal Palace to even take a single look.
At this moment, even she felt it was unfair to Jiang Lan.
"No, it's not like that."
"Tell me, how is Lan'er doing now?"
The confusion in his eyes flashed away, and Lin Chen's voice became violent and cold.
"Now?"
"She's probably about to enter the bridal chamber, right?"
"That Gu Family Emperor Child has always been promiscuous and takes all comers, and the Gu Family also has deep foundations; no one knows how many things they've hidden."
"Even if Auntie has a quasi-Emperor level cultivation, she might not be able to hold out for long."
Jiang Qing's embellishment successfully ignited Lin Chen's rage completely.
"What did you say?!!!"
He suddenly took a step forward, and terrifying pressure erupted like a tangible force, making the entire battleship tremble violently!
Jiang Qing's expression changed slightly; she clearly hadn't expected Lin Chen to have undergone such a drastic transformation.
The once unknown young man had now grown to such an extent.
Even Auntie, who had been enjoying the Jiang family's resources and making rapid progress, might not be his match.
It's just a pity...
Although her opinion of Lin Chen changed, Jiang Qing still couldn't help but feel sorry for Auntie.
All of this was too late; the Lin Chen of back then was, after all, still an unproven young man.
In Jiang Daoxuan's mind, whose core policy was to develop the Jiang family, he had no value whatsoever.
But now... perhaps he really could help Auntie.
Jiang Qing felt a glimmer of hope, after all, this whole situation was a mistake.
The reason Auntie had given up hope and was willing to exchange her future for her own freedom wasn't it because Lin Chen had disappeared, making her feel there was no need to continue living--
Now that Lin Chen had returned, perhaps he could change Auntie.
The more Jiang Qing thought about it, the more possible it seemed. As for the matter with Gu Yun, it was something she should have endured herself; Auntie had done so much for her since childhood, and now it was her turn to do something for her.
Jiang Qing, being insignificant, was naturally powerless to change anything, so she could only pin her hopes on the intimidating fleet before her.
What if... what if there was some hope?
"Where is Lan'er? Take me there!!!"
Lin Chen's eyes blazed with fury, and the overflowing rage in his chest was completely uncontrollable.
After drifting in a daze for over ten thousand years, he finally awakened his past life memories, accompanied by a system.
Overjoyed, he believed he could turn the tables, return to Gengjin Immortal Palace, and let that snobbish brother-in-law see clearly what a wrong choice he had made in his life by missing out on him, a potential stock!
For this, he had been consolidating his power, clearing this star domain, and gradually expanding his influence during this time.
This was how he achieved his current strength. He thought it was finally time to return home in glory, but he never expected that his beloved Lan'er was about to become someone else's bride.
How could he tolerate that?
"Where else could she be?"
"Naturally... Gengjin Immortal Palace."
"But with your current strength, going there would just be suicide."
Jiang Qing said with disdain.
"Hmph, a frog in a well. You and your father are equally short-sighted."
"The strength I possess is far from being this simple."
Lin Chen sneered, "Alright, less talk, more action. Take me there quickly."
"If anything happens to Lan'er, there's nothing I wouldn't do."
//458//
Chapter 458 Hug
The terrifying fleet, traveling through the endless void, was vast and boundless, stretching for thousands of miles, immensely horrifying.
Like a migrating metal galaxy, it obscured all starlight along its path.
The entire fleet exuded a destructive will that crushed everything and disregarded all rules, roaring through the starry sky, heading straight for the Gengjin Immortal Palace with an unstoppable momentum, as if determined to fight to the death.
At the same time, within the bridal chamber of the Gengjin Immortal Palace.
The red candles flickered, and the warm glow, which should have been enchanting and intimate, now reflected an unusual calm.
"Ding! Congratulations to the Host for conquering the Protagonist of Destiny, Jiang Lan! Rewarding 2 Red Treasure Chests."
Gu Yun leaned lazily against the round table draped with crimson brocade, his slender fingers tapping idly on the cold tabletop, producing a crisp, monotonous "tap, tap" sound. In his other hand, he held a burnt-out cigarette butt. A playful smile hung on his face as he calmly observed his handiwork beside him, quite satisfied.
Jiang Lan leaned against the headboard, her posture awkward, as if she had been forcibly arranged.
The magnificent crimson wedding dress, symbolizing her status as a "bride," was no longer beautiful; a savage tear ripped open the fabric at her chest, revealing a large expanse of dazzling white skin.
She trembled all over, her eyes vacant, her entire being plunged into an indescribable state of self-doubt.
Her expression was numb, as if she were a walking corpse.
On her delicate face, two dried tear tracks were visible.
For her, the recent storm had been a devastating ordeal. Gu Yun had not only shattered her last physical defense of ten thousand years but also crushed her dignity and pride as a Quasi-Emperor expert in the most brutal way.
The humiliating words, the vulgar actions, the methods devoid of any tenderness—the other party clearly did not treat her as his so-called fiancée, but rather as a complete plaything, an object to be wantonly bullied.
It was exactly as she had initially expected, except that the bullied object had changed from Xiao Qing to herself.
However, Jiang Lan still had something to be grateful for: at least Xiao Qing would not have to suffer this calamity. She was the sinner, so she would bear it all.
"What, still savoring it?"
Gu Yun stood up with a faint smile, a slight curve on his lips.
He casually extinguished the cigarette butt and walked towards the bed, each step seemingly treading on Jiang Lan's taut nerves.
Jiang Lan's body instinctively flinched, a subtle reaction that deepened the smile on Gu Yun's lips.
He looked down from above at this once high and mighty Quasi-Emperor expert, admiring her shattered state at this moment, scrutinizing his magnificent masterpiece from top to bottom, truly full of praise.
"You say… if Lin Chen saw you in this state now, what would his expression be?"
Gu Yun reached out, his cold fingers tracing Jiang Lan's pale cheek, forcing her to look at him.
Her vacant eyes finally reacted, her pupils contracting violently, her cracked lips trembling slightly.
She looked at the terrifying man before her with disbelief.
"You… you…"
Her voice was hoarse beyond recognition, stammering and occasionally punctuated by dry coughs.
"How… how do you know his name?"
Jiang Lan almost doubted her own sanity. Logically, Gu Yun should have initially been targeting Jiang Qing, and he would certainly not have known that she would choose to marry him in Jiang Qing's place. But now, he knew everything about her past.
What a terrifying man he was.
Jiang Lan shuddered at the thought, experiencing an extreme sense of fear for the first time towards this man, whose cultivation was far inferior to hers yet who could forcibly suppress her.
"Is this something difficult to find out?"
"My Gu Family's intelligence network spans the entire Three Thousand Dao Domains. If I want to know something, I only need a single long-distance transmission, and all your information can appear on my desk in an instant."
Gu Yun raised an eyebrow, placing a foot on Jiang Lan's chest and slowly leaning down, his boot pressing heavily on her chest, distorting the excess flesh. Jiang Lan felt a sudden suffocation in her heart, her cherry lips slightly parted, and her eyes slowly widened.
The young man's casual actions were immense torture for her, whose strength was sealed.
Just like before, even though it was only for a very short time, she already felt like she was falling apart. If not for a gentle force continuously flowing into her waist, she would not have been able to bear it at all.
"In front of me, you have no secrets."
That handsome, almost demonic face drew close to Jiang Lan's pale face, a chilling smile on his lips.
"My dear wife, we're already married, and you're still thinking of other men. Isn't that… a bit too much?"
Gu Yun's fingers caressed her disheveled hair, then suddenly yanked it, forcing her to look up at him.
"I… I didn't…"
Jiang Lan's voice trembled; she was already extremely afraid of the man before her.
The previous period of time might have only seemed like a few hours from the outside.
But within the Great Luo Dao Pagoda, she had endured decades of Gu Yun's torment and ravaging. The prolonged bullying made her tremble and shake all over just by verbally defying Gu Yun.
"Didn't?"
"I'll just assume you didn't."
Gu Yun gently released Jiang Lan's hair and laid her back on the bed.
"Do you know why I don't kill you?"
Gu Yun suddenly changed his posture, embracing Jiang Lan with extreme tenderness, switching back and forth incredibly quickly, as if he were two different people.
Jiang Lan, still immersed in fear, responded numbly: "I… I don't know…"
"Don't worry, the road ahead is still very rich and colorful."
"How could I bear to let you die now?"
Gu Yun gently rubbed Jiang Lan's heart, wanting her to recover a little, but it seemed to make her even more nervous.
Gu Yun's expression furrowed slightly.
"I… I didn't do it on purpose."
Jiang Lan's voice trembled, like a small quail.
"It's alright."
Gu Yun directly held Jiang Lan's thigh and lifted her up.
His gaze looked far into the distance.
"Xiao Yun, be careful. It seems there's an unusual aura approaching this way."
Gu Yaozi's voice suddenly sounded in the young man's ear, carrying a hint of anger but also some concern.
"Alright, Aunt Zi, you be careful too."
Gu Yun replied.
At the same time, he looked at Jiang Lan, leaned close to her ear, and whispered: "He's here, you know."
Jiang Lan: "?!!"
Gu Yun: "~(‾▿‾~)"
//459//
Chapter 459 Lin Chen Arrives (Two in One)
"You…you're saying who…"
Jiang Lan's delicate body trembled slightly, and her expression became extremely distorted.
As the young man's soft words echoed in her ears, that familiar figure from her memories couldn't help but quietly surface.
At the same time, it brought Gu Yun a different kind of pleasure; Jiang Lan looked valiant and heroic, like a female general, but in reality, her combat power was incredibly weak.
Under Gu Yun's torment, she was already physically and mentally exhausted.
Of course, Gu Yun, at least, was having a lot of fun, without any thoughts of cherishing a beautiful woman; all he had was battle, a reckless and uninhibited battle.
Even with his master, he had never felt such exhilarating pleasure.
Naturally, this led to Jiang Lan becoming the way she was now; if Gu Yun said one, she wouldn't dare say two.
"Who else could it be? Of course, it's your old flame."
Facing Jiang Lan's questioning, Gu Yun considerately brought Jiang Lan's body to the window, and his gaze pierced through the distant void.
Outside the Gengjin Dao Domain, the originally vast and boundless void now resembled a torn brocade, twisting into a massive vortex.
In the depths of that vortex, the cold glint of metal flickered indistinctly.
"H-how is that possible?"
Jiang Lan's pupils constricted violently; on one hand, she was astonished that the young man could let her see a scene hundreds of millions of miles away, and on the other hand, she was shocked that Lin Chen actually possessed such immense capital.
She watched with her own eyes as densely packed warships emerged from the vortex, and the shock in her heart was beyond words.
"Do you feel like your savior has arrived?"
Gu Yun's arm embraced her trembling body, his chin resting on her shoulder, as intimate as lovers whispering sweet nothings.
Jiang Lan's body stiffened, and only then did she recall her current predicament.
"Look at your body, because you're a little excited, it's starting to change."
The young man's tone was calm and gentle, as if he were the kindest person in the world.
However, Jiang Lan's body swayed up and down with his voice, and soon her hands drooped to the ground, no longer having any strength to speak.
Gu Yun abruptly threw her to the ground, grabbed her hair, and calmly said, "Lick it clean."
Jiang Lan was in a daze for a moment, then the stinging pain came, and she had no choice but to humiliatingly comply.
"For such a toy, your taste back then was really bad."
"I heard you had a very unpleasant falling out with my brother-in-law, my good father-in-law, because of this?"
"Why did you compromise in the end?"
"You must have thought you made a huge sacrifice, right?"
Jiang Lan's movements slowed, and she raised her eyes to look at the young man with a puzzled expression, seemingly not understanding the meaning of his words.
Gu Yun did not give her a chance to breathe.
"Don't get distracted, focus, otherwise you won't even have the last bit of value left."
"By then, my cheap father-in-law's face won't be able to save you either."
Gu Yun spoke very indifferently: "The Gengjin Immortal Palace dominates one side, and its strength is not weak."
"It's just a pity that this generation produced a pair of spendthrifts like you and Jiang Qing."
"I don't know what kind of sin my brother-in-law committed."
Gu Yun chuckled softly, as if he was talking about a trivial matter.
Sweeping the snow from one's own doorstep, not bothering about the frost on others' roofs.
As the Gu Family Emperor Child, Gu Yun originally had no need to show any pity towards the Jiang family, nor did he need to bother with these messy affairs.
But there's no helping it… who told our great Emperor Child Gu to be kind-hearted?
He just couldn't bear to see others suffer!
Since Jiang Daoxuan couldn't do anything about the aunt and niece, he would go with the flow and take these two enchantresses.
Serving tea and water well on a daily basis could also temper their personalities.
As for Lin Chen, this suddenly appearing Child of Destiny sounded an alarm for Gu Yun; he had been dealing with Children of Destiny too quickly recently.
Many people had not even completed their historical missions before becoming nutrients in the heaven and earth furnace, completely becoming resources for his growth as a villain.
It seemed that Destiny was getting a little impatient.
This Lin Chen seemed to have appeared out of thin air, and it was very likely that he was also a Transmigrator like himself; Gu Yun estimated that after he killed Yuwen Tian on the Ancient Continent, Destiny intervened to support him as an agent to fill the subsequent void.
This also perfectly explained the origin of the System.
The swarm-style approach was indeed a very good way to handle things, after all, the immortal lock, not only harmed many great Emperor predecessors of the Gu Family.
It also brought difficulties to Destiny's operations; in the current situation, even if it directly descended an invincible Child of Destiny with the strength of Great Emperor Nine Heavens, it would be impossible to kill him.
Two fists are no match for four hands; if one Child of Destiny was enough, then the Children of Destiny in the Three Thousand Dao Domains wouldn't be popping up one after another like mushrooms after rain.
Only by relying on the so-called swarm, with an absolute numerical advantage.
It's just… this Lin Chen exposed himself too early, and his personality was too volatile, deviating from his original development trajectory, directly confronting himself, who should have been a boss-like existence, in the early stages of the story.
For a swarm-style protagonist who always follows rules and relies on battle power expansion to drive the plot, this was simply a devastating blow.
However, it was also normal; after all, the protagonists of System novels, nine out of ten, had no brains.
Keeping Jiang Lan was just to see how much she could shine and contribute later; her value would depend on whether she could fight her way out of this battle on her own.
With that thought, Gu Yun let out a long sigh of relief, feeling light as air; Jiang Lan wasn't entirely without merit after all.
…
In the main hall of the Gengjin Immortal Palace, Jiang Daoxuan, who had been enjoying drinks and conversation, gradually reined in his smile.
The originally joyous wedding banquet instantly fell into an eerie silence; an inexplicable atmosphere surged in the air, and everyone's gaze converged on the sky outside the window.
"Everyone, it seems some uninvited guests have arrived."
"Please wait a moment, Daoxuan will go and handle it."
Jiang Daoxuan's expression became extremely grim; he never expected someone to ruin his good fortune at such an occasion as his daughter's wedding to the Gu Family Emperor Child.
He'd better not find out who this person is!!
"Palace Master Jiang, what are you saying? We are naturally fine."
"Yes, good wine, good food, good songs and dances, we await Palace Master Jiang's return!"
The guests also laughed heartily, but their gazes remained fixed on Jiang Daoxuan.
Regardless of who the visitor was, in such an environment, the other party was able to hide from the Jiang family's scouts and brazenly intrude into the Gengjin Dao Domain, which showed how much the Jiang family had declined; their former glory was like fleeting clouds, scattered by the wind; if they wanted to continue standing at the pinnacle of the Three Thousand Dao Domains in the future, it would require the efforts of a new generation.
If it weren't for their connection to the Gu Family, among the forces present, there would definitely be no small number of people ready to make a move.
From the Immortal Ancient era until now, many forces have fallen, and the root cause lies here.
Being able to seize opportunities to grow and strengthen, the Ten Immortal Palaces could do it, and the other Emperor-level forces might not be unable to.
Of course, all of this had already become a castle in the air; from the moment Gu Yun, the direct descendant of the Immortal Ancient Gu Family, stepped into the Jiang family, it meant that the Gengjin Immortal Palace's second spring was about to arrive.
At least, for the next few million years, the Jiang family would not face any catastrophic disaster.
After several million years, if the Jiang family still fails to produce a decent Heavenly Prodigy disciple, then it will be the time when their luck runs out.
Jiang Daoxuan naturally understood this principle; while feeling relieved, his gratitude towards the Gu Family Emperor Child deepened further; no matter what, this seemingly hopeless situation was personally resolved by this Emperor Child.
An opportunity that countless people sought but couldn't obtain had now fallen upon him, and he would never allow anyone to ruin his good fortune.
"Good, thank you all!"
Jiang Daoxuan bowed slightly to the guests present, then was about to walk out of the main hall.
Suddenly, a noisy commotion came from outside the door.
…
Some time ago.
"Heh, I didn't expect that after ten thousand years, the Jiang family's vigilance has become so poor."
As Lin Chen's fleet used stealth methods to pass through the border pass of the Gengjin Dao Domain, Lin Chen, who was on the main ship, couldn't help but let out a sneer like this: This Jiang Daoxuan, looking down on people, does he think he can survive in this world where the strong are respected just by playing both sides?
Today, he, Dragon Chen, has returned as a king, and he wants this arrogant brother-in-law to see his methods!
Jiang Qing, however, frowned slightly; how could this be… even if the Jiang family had declined, it wouldn't have fallen to such a state.
She always felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't pinpoint it.
"Niece, tell me? What exactly has your father accomplished these past few years?"
Lin Chen's voice carried undisguised contempt; inside the flagship's bridge, the dim blue light illuminated his eyes, which burned with a faint flame beneath his mask.
Jiang Qing's expression changed, and her evaluation of Lin Chen dropped a notch; she didn't hold much hope for saving Jiang Lan either.
She even felt a little self-reproach, always feeling that this might put Jiang Lan in danger; as for the Jiang family?
Jiang Qing originally didn't think Lin Chen's fleet could cause much trouble for the Jiang family; her original plan was to use his power to admit her mistakes to her father.
Then she would replace Jiang Lan and marry Gu Yun, and her aunt could also be with Lin Chen, her lover, and they would live happily ever after; in this way, all parties would be balanced, which perfectly fit the idea of everyone being happy.
She had intended to tell Lin Chen about her plan, but now she felt it wasn't the right time.
Given Lin Chen's personality, he probably wouldn't want to settle things peacefully; was her choice truly correct?
"Mr. Lin, my father has governed the Gengjin Immortal Palace for tens of thousands of years; he naturally has his methods and foundations, please do not underestimate him."
"Hmph, that's right, just a cold-blooded and ruthless power machine."
"It's just that I didn't expect the place I thought he excelled at to be so unbearable."
Lin Chen stood up and sneered.
Jiang Qing was about to retort, but then she heard Lin Chen interrupt her words.
"Let's go, since no one came out to welcome us, then we will go and say hello to the hosts!"
Lin Chen's mouth curled into a mocking smile.
Jiang Qing's expression changed drastically: "What are you kidding? Leaving this warship, how will you contend with the people of the Gengjin Immortal Palace?"
"Not to mention these fence-sitting guests, the Gengjin Immortal Palace has at least five Great Emperors who can make a move."
"Just you, what makes you think you can slap their faces?"
"I have my own way."
"You don't need to worry about that."
Lin Chen was very confident; he was someone with a System.
Although only a little over a month had passed since he transmigrated, and he was already facing a powerful opponent like the Jiang family, he was still full of confidence.
After all, his woman had suffered such unfair treatment in the Jiang family; didn't Heaven arrange Jiang Qing to appear before him at this time precisely so that he could be a hero saving the beauty, wreak havoc at the wedding, and ultimately win the beauty and become a life winner?
"System, bring up the current troop panel."
He silently chanted in his mind.
[Ding! Supreme Swarm System at your service]
[Main battleships: 3872, Quasi-Emperor-class flagships: 10, Great Emperor-class flagship: 1 (can only fire one shot)]
[Combat puppets: 10,000 (Saint Realm)]
[Influence points: 120,000]
Looking at the data displayed on the System panel, Lin Chen's mouth curved into a cold smile.
With his current strength, causing chaos and taking Jiang Lan away was naturally not a problem.
120,000 influence points could even provide Emperor Realm level firepower support for his main cannon; under indiscriminate attack, he didn't believe the Jiang family wouldn't need to be distracted to protect the Gu Family Emperor Child.
As long as he found an opportunity to take Jiang Lan away, he could escape scot-free.
These good-for-nothings would never be able to catch him.
In just one month, he had grown from a penniless exiled Quasi-Emperor to his current state.
Just a little more time, and he could bring countless Emperor-level warships to the Jiang family; by then, even if he directly made Jiang Daoxuan kneel and call him daddy, he wouldn't have anything to say!
"Mr. Lin…"
Jiang Qing's words interrupted his thoughts.
She stood in the corner of the bridge, her slender fingers tightly clutching her clothes, her eyes filled with worry.
"Alright, don't worry."
"Let's go, we'll go together and give your father a big surprise!!"
Lin Chen laughed heartily and disappeared from the spot with Jiang Qing.
After they landed, Lin Chen's armor disappeared, and he reverted to a coarse linen robe.
Revealing his rather clear and handsome appearance.
Jiang Qing stared in astonishment at Lin Chen, who had transformed as if by magic, and her mouth twitched.
"What, are you stunned?"
Lin Chen chuckled, quite pleased; after all, they were aunt and niece, their aesthetics were indeed similar.
He was also quite smitten with Jiang Qing, this little beauty; if there was an opportunity later, a night spent together under the same covers would surely be a joyous experience.
Jiang Qing's mouth twitched; she truly didn't know where Lin Chen got his confidence from.
She had seen the portrait of the Gu Family Emperor Child; there was no way she could be captivated by Lin Chen's meager looks.
To be honest, in terms of handsomeness alone, Lin Chen wasn't even as good as Zhou Yuan.
Not to mention compared to the devastatingly handsome Gu Yun; Jiang Qing now thought more and more that she had been impulsive and scared by her aunt back then, and now she had to come back to mend the situation, which was simply not worth the effort.
"I'm just curious why you're wearing this outfit."
"Hmph, I was wearing this very outfit when Jiang Daoxuan drove me away."
"Now I'm back, and of course, I want this snobbish fellow to see clearly what it means to not bully a young man for being poor!!"
//460//
Chapter 460: Breaking in (Two in One)
His voice echoed through the empty streets, drawing curious glances from a few passersby.
Jiang Qing instinctively took half a step back, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.
Fortunately, she usually kept to herself, and with her recent wanderings, she was still quite fatigued, so few people recognized her as the Jiang family's young miss. Most merely glanced at Lin Chen with odd looks before turning and leaving.
With the wedding at Gengjin Immortal Palace, the entire Gengjin Dao Domain was on high alert; getting caught would be no laughing matter.
This also allowed Jiang Qing to breathe a sigh of relief.
This Lin Chen, his image was simply too different from what her aunt had described.
"How do we get in?"
Jiang Qing lowered her voice, her gaze sweeping towards the mountain not far away, which was the Gengjin Immortal Palace's Dao Domain.
And Gengjin City, where they were, was the main city of the Gengjin Dao Domain, home to millions of cultivators and mortals who provided resources to the Gengjin Immortal Palace and were protected by it.
Jiang Qing did not want these people to be implicated in her affairs, which was why she did not strongly object to Lin Chen's wild ideas.
"Today is supposed to be my wedding banquet, so the Gengjin Immortal Palace's guards will surely be several times stricter than usual."
"Hmph, they're just a few watchdogs, nothing to worry about?"
Lin Chen snorted disdainfully, speaking with confidence.
With that, he walked directly towards the Gengjin Immortal Palace, his eyes gleaming with a faint blue light, as if he could already see the magnificent scene of himself causing chaos at the wedding and rescuing Jiang Lan.
"Wait, you'll definitely be discovered like this."
Jiang Qing hurriedly followed, her eyes filled with anxiety.
"We can't just waltz in like this!"
Lin Chen paid no attention, his steps unwavering.
"You only need to follow me. As for the Gengjin Immortal Palace, I can come and go as I please!"
"You fellow!!"
Jiang Qing stomped her foot in frustration, feeling as if she had backed the wrong horse.
But seeing Lin Chen walk towards the majestic mountain gate of the Gengjin Immortal Palace without looking back, she could only quickly follow.
"Stop!"
As expected, before they even entered the Gengjin Immortal Palace, a sharp shout came.
Eight golden-armored guards stood like door gods, the leader blocking their path with a halberd, his voice cold and hard as iron.
Their gazes swept over Lin Chen's coarse linen clothes, which were faded and even patched, revealing undisguised disdain and disgust in their eyes.
"This is a vital area of the Gengjin Immortal Palace. Unauthorized personnel, retreat quickly! Today, the Palace Master is marrying off his daughter; no outside guests are permitted!"
The captain of the guards raised his chin slightly, his tone carrying a condescending reprimand, as if he were chasing away a wild dog that had mistakenly entered a grand courtyard.
The golden armor shimmered with flowing light, and runes flickered, clearly indicating its extraordinary nature, forming a stark contrast with Lin Chen's shabby appearance.
But Lin Chen didn't even pause his steps. He completely ignored the deafening shouts, and the spiritual pressure, which would have crushed ordinary cultivators, was merely a gentle breeze to him.
He didn't even bother to lift his eyelids, walking straight through the middle of the eight golden-armored guards.
"Presumptuous!"
"Audacious madman!"
"Take him down!"
Being ignored in such a way, these golden-armored warriors could no longer suppress their anger. They lunged forward, their massive refined gold halberds whistling through the air, glinting with dangerous Gengjin sharpness. They crossed in front of Lin Chen's chest, one from the left and one from the right, barely half a foot from his neck, their cold glint piercing to the bone.
"Today is a day of great joy; the Palace Master has instructed that no blood should be shed. Leave now, and you may keep your life!"
The guard captain shouted coldly.
"Captain, why waste so many words on this brainless country bumpkin?"
The young guard on the left already had an impatient look of anger on his face: "This kind of trash, why doesn't he take a piss and look at himself in the mirror?"
"The Immortal Palace mountain gate is a place you can step into?"
"Exactly, reeking of poverty, why aren't you rolling away quickly? Don't defile the immortal aura of the Immortal Palace!"
"Take one more step forward, and don't blame us for our merciless blades, we will kill you on the spot!"
Sharp Gengjin spiritual power rose from their bodies, like tangible small swords swirling around them, full of warning and disdain.
In their eyes, this young man in coarse clothes, from whom they couldn't even sense a decent spiritual power fluctuation, was perhaps just a mentally unbalanced mortal, or a poor rogue cultivator from some remote corner, desperate and trying his luck.
In any case, he wouldn't be someone they couldn't afford to offend, as all the influential figures from the surrounding Dao Domain had already been invited as guests.
How could such a person arrive so late, dressed like a beggar, just to show off?
The guard captain's reprimand and the young guard's harsh mockery buzzed in Lin Chen's ears like annoying flies.
Not only did they fail to ignite his anger, but they made the curve of his lips even more exaggerated, almost reaching his ears.
An indescribable, twisted pleasure churned in his chest.
That's it! This is the feeling!!
It truly was like hearing immortal music, my ears suddenly clear. The novels I read in my previous life did not deceive me; even a fantasy world cannot escape the nature of snobbery.
He felt like the fated protagonist in a story, standing at a turning point, about to stage a spectacular drama that would shock everyone and make them lose face!
"Damn it, that smile is truly ugly."
One guard sneered, feeling that this sudden appearance of a country bumpkin was like a masochist.
They had insulted him again and again, yet he didn't get angry; instead, he started to laugh. This arrogant laughter simply showed that he didn't take them seriously at all!!
"Alright, stop wasting words on him. Today is a day of great joy; don't let irrelevant people spoil the mood of the Palace Master and others."
The guard captain, being more composed, spoke coldly.
"Did you hear that, kid? Get lost quickly. Do we need to say it a second time?"
"Haha, hahahaha!!!"
"Gengjin Immortal Palace, ten thousand years have passed, and you are still the same, snobbish as ever."
Lin Chen finally couldn't hold back and burst into laughter. He slowly raised his head, his eyes flickering with a strange crimson color.
His laughter echoed before the solemn mountain gate, sounding particularly harsh and frenzied.
He ignored the halberd tips that almost pierced his skin, ignored the guards' faces that grew increasingly grim and enraged by his wild laughter, his gaze like that of someone looking at a group of comical, overestimating ants.
"You bastard, you're really looking for death!"
The young guard could no longer contain himself, anger surging in his heart, his eyes flashing with icy killing intent.
He sharply shook the halberd in his hand, and the Gengjin sharpness surged, transforming into a condensed silver streak that tore through the air, stabbing directly at Lin Chen's throat!
This strike was as fast as lightning, ruthless and merciless. Clearly, he was truly enraged and intended to kill this arrogant madman who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth on the spot!
Jiang Qing arrived late, seeing this terrifying scene, her heart almost leaped out of her chest. This Lin Chen had completely ignored her, moving very fast.
This caused her to be left far behind. She was complaining inwardly, but hurried to catch up with Lin Chen.
She thought he would have some good plan, but she didn't expect him to already be fighting.
"Wait a moment..."
She was about to speak to stop him and reveal her identity.
Since everything was a misunderstanding, it should be resolved peacefully.
Jiang Qing, with the unique clarity and naivety of a fated heroine, intended to step forward, but Lin Chen wouldn't give her a chance to waste words.
The eight golden-armored guards were all Great Saint Realm experts, and the leader was even a Quasi-Emperor First Heaven.
These were formidable experts who dominated the outside world, yet even in the Gengjin Immortal Palace, which was showing signs of decline, they could only serve as gatekeeping servants.
But even so, countless people still flocked to it, even taking pride in it.
Jiang Qing's cry had just left her lips when her voice was completely drowned out by the piercing shriek that tore through the air and the sudden burst of terrifying pressure!
She only saw Lin Chen facing the silver streak that could pierce mountains. Not only did he not dodge, but the frenzied smile on his lips suddenly froze, and the eyes beneath his covered face instantly transformed into two burning, icy blue flames!
"My grand-niece, don't worry. Do you think the fleet is my only trump card?"
Lin Chen's cold laughter swept through like a chilling wind from the netherworld, carrying a creepy confidence.
Before his words finished, an indescribable, terrifying pressure, as if an ancient slumbering beast had suddenly awakened, erupted from him!
Buzz---!!!
That silver streak, carrying the young guard's rage and killing intent, suddenly froze three inches from Lin Chen's throat, as if it had slammed into an invisible, indestructible wall of sighing!
It trembled violently, emitting a teeth-grinding metallic wail. The sharp silver light flowing on its surface flickered wildly like a candle flame swept by a gale, dimming and brightening, until with a soft "poof," it completely dissipated like a phantom, turning into specks of cold starlight that vanished into the air!
The eight golden-armored guards' figures paused, their gazes at Lin Chen filled with horror.
The Quasi-Emperor expert leading them spoke with a trembling voice: "Late-stage Quasi-Emperor..."
Generally, Quasi-Emperors of the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Heavens are referred to as late-stage Quasi-Emperors. Experts of this level, even in the Gengjin Immortal Palace, could be considered honored guests, not reduced to being a captain of guards like him.
Who would have thought that such a terrifying existence would appear here, dressed in coarse linen clothes like a beggar, just strolling around?
No one could understand Lin Chen's thought process, and he wouldn't give them any more chances.
Facing these cultivators who had already attacked him, he wouldn't show an ounce of mercy.
He slowly raised his palm, while his other hand was hollowed out and pressed against his face, striking a very arrogant pose.
In the center of his palm, a profound, dark blue vortex suddenly lit up, as if it could swallow light!
It blasted towards the golden-armored guards at an extremely fast speed.
The terrifying might surged, directly obliterating all eight of them on the spot.
Even the Quasi-Emperor First Heaven captain was not spared. This was a swift killing move that Lin Chen unleashed after spending a thousand power points to empower himself, with the goal of showcasing his strength and making a good impression on his grand-niece standing nearby.
They say beauties love heroes. With this move, she would surely be utterly captivated by him.
"You... why did you kill them?"
Jiang Qing stood frozen, her lips trembling slightly, her pupils filled with disbelief. She looked at Lin Chen and couldn't help but question him.
Those were eight lives, just gone so casually? And right in front of the Gengjin Immortal Palace's mountain gate!
This not only meant the deterioration of relations between the two sides but also meant that her wild fantasies had become utterly unrealistic.
Society dealt a harsh blow to this girl who had grown up in an ivory tower; her belief in working together was, in fact, just wishful thinking.
"They said the wrong things, so they had to die."
"That's also because you insisted on wearing these clothes."
"Are you questioning me?"
Lin Chen's voice turned cold. His seemingly flawless plan seemed to have had no effect. This Jiang Qing, she actually didn't show any admiration for him?
As expected of Jiang Daoxuan's daughter, she was also blind.
"I..."
Jiang Qing was speechless for a moment. She deeply regretted it, feeling that she had made the wrong choice.
"Alright, they were just a few yapping watchdogs."
"Their deaths won't cause any ripples, nor will they make Jiang Daoxuan feel any pain."
"Let's go, this is just an appetizer, the real surprise is yet to come!"
"Ten thousand years of humiliation, I didn't expect my brother-in-law to give me such a big surprise as soon as I returned. I must repay him well!"
After speaking, he directly crossed the mountain gate and headed straight for the main hall of the Gengjin Immortal Palace.
Jiang Qing hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and followed. Since things had come to this, she could only bite the bullet and continue.
The magnificent golden buildings shimmered in the distance, and the deep, long corridors were filled with tranquility and solitude.
The two moved very quickly and soon arrived at the entrance of the main hall.
"Who are you?!"
At the hall entrance, two cultivators in golden armor stared intently at the uninvited pair, their aura erupting.
"One after another?"
"It seems the Gengjin Immortal Palace hasn't been hurt enough yet!"
Lin Chen sneered.
"Stop!!!"
Just then, Jiang Qing suddenly stepped forward and shouted angrily.
She darted between Lin Chen and the guards, her slender body spreading her arms, separating the two sides.
She couldn't let the two factions continue to accumulate conflict.
The two golden-armored guards' expressions changed drastically when they saw the person's face: "Young Miss?!!!"
Both were somewhat in disbelief. If the Young Miss was here, then who was the one who entered the bridal chamber earlier?
A sense of absurdity rose in their hearts. The two exchanged glances, both somewhat at a loss.
"It's me..."
Jiang Qing took a deep breath, suppressing the fear and unease in her heart: "I will personally explain what happened to Father."
"This is a guest I brought. You all may withdraw for now."
"But Young Miss..."
"I said, withdraw!"
Jiang Qing's voice suddenly rose, a hint of authority flashing in her eyes: "Are you going to defy my orders?!"
"Heh, why waste words?"
"They're just two watchdogs. Is this all the Gengjin Immortal Palace is capable of now?"
"Even cultivators like this can guard such an important place?"
Lin Chen sneered, about to make a move.
"Lin Chen...!!!"
Jiang Qing was burning with anxiety, not wanting the situation to worsen.
"Qing'er, I didn't expect you to be here."
At this moment, a helpless yet somewhat relieved voice sounded in the girl's ear, and a figure in a golden Daoist robe walked out of the main hall.
His face was handsome, upright, and mature, but now, he seemed to have aged dozens of years in an instant.